NORTHERN KEARNY FINNEY COUNTY

LOCAL ENHANCED MANAGEMENT AREA

(KFL)
April 19, 2017 ~ Informational Meeting
AGENDA

Welcome Pastor Kris Humphrey, Cornerstone Church

Introductions & Meeting Purpose Dwane Roth, Steering Committee Member
Why we are here Brownie Wilson, Kansas Geological Survey
What is a LEMA? Mitch Baalman, Sheridan-6 LEMA
Proposal Overview, Examples & Flexibilities Mike Standley, Steering Committee
Member and Mike Meyer, KDA-Division of Water Resources
Next Steps Randy Richmeier, Steering Committee Member
Questions, Feedback & Discussion
 WELCOME
Pastor Kris Humphrey, Cornerstone Church
INTRODUCTIONS & MEETING
PURPOSE
Dwane Roth, Steering Committee Member
 NORTHERN FINNEY & KEARNY COUNTY
LOCAL ENHANCED MANAGEMENT AREA (KFL)
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Dwane Roth Cory Weathered
Randy Richmeier Monte Miller
Mike Standley Steven Sterling
Bob Knoll Kyle Maddux
Jeff Mai Clayton Maddux
Doug Mai Troy Dumler
Roger Unruh
WHO WE ARE

We are landowners and producers who represent and operate inside this
proposed boundary
We all have irrigation wells ranging in capacity from 200 gpm to 1200 gpm
Inside this proposed LEMA is our community. We are all competitors but also
neighbors
Everyone on the committee has a succession plan for the next generation. We all
have sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters
We would like that succession plan to have irrigation sustainability for all inside
the proposed LEMA for future generations
Grace Roth Freshman, Holcomb High School
MEETING PURPOSE

Share information about the condition of the Ogallala

Aquifer in northern Kearny and Finney counties
Describe a locally-developed proposal to address aquifer
declines
Hear feedback on the proposal
WHAT IS A LEMA?

A Local Enhanced Management Area, or LEMA, is a

management plan to address local groundwater
concerns.
A Groundwater Management District (GMD) has the
authority to recommend a LEMA to the chief engineer.
By law, two public hearings will be held so that the chief
engineer can ensure a LEMA is needed and is in the
public interest.
 WHY WE ARE HERE
CONDITIONS OF THE OGALLALA AQUIFER IN
NORTHER KEARNY AND FINNEY COUNTIES
Brownie Wilson, Kansas Geological Survey
 Some of the
highest
measured
aquifer declines
in the past five
years have
occurred within
the KFL
boundary
 KFL Boundary
and Water Right
Development
^ Industrial
! Irrigation
# Municipal
h Recreation
X Stockwater
d Thermal Exchange
KFL AVERAGE WATER USE PER YEAR,
2006-2015
Municipal Recreation Stockwater
5% 0% 1%

Thermal

Hydraulic Dredging
0%
Irrigation
94% Industrial
0%

Industrial, Recreation,
Hydraulic Dredging, and
Thermal Exchange each
make up less than 1% of
the total use for the area

Hydraulic Dredging Industrial Irrigation Municipal Recreation Stockwater Thermal Exchange

 WATER
LEVEL
CHANGES
(2005-2016)
 Average Groundwater Use
= 112,249 AF

Average Water Level

Decline =
3.13 feet

Based on this relationship, using averages, on the short term:

26.3% reduction in average use = Stable Water Levels = Sustainable

20% reduction in average use = 0.76 feet annual decline = decline reduced by 76%
10% reduction in average use = 1.95 feet annual decline = decline reduced by 38%
 Water table
elevations and
groundwater flow,
2014 -2016
 Water table
elevations and
groundwater flow,
2014 -2016
1.10 0.96 1.02 1.11 0.48 0.34 0.80 0.66 0.54 0.38 0.40 0.24 0.27 0.24 0.12 0.12 0.15 0.06 0.04 0.09
 West to East
Land Surface,
Water Table and
Bedrock Profiles
 0.66

0.56

0.41

0.20

0.04
Water table 0.00

elevations and 0.05

groundwater flow, 0.09

2014 -2016 1.10 0.96 1.02 1.11 0.48 0.34 0.80 0.66 0.54 0.38 0.40 0.24 0.27
0.06
0.24 0.12 0.12 0.15 0.06 0.04 0.09
0.30

0.47

0.57

0.30

1.82

1.74

1.24
North to South
Land Surface,
Water Table and
Bedrock Profiles
Observation Wells
and Proposed
Index Well Site
 WHAT IS A LEMA?
EXPERIENCE FROM A WATER RIGHT OWNER IN
SHERIDAN6 LEMA
Mitch Baalman
 SHERIDAN-6 LEMA

Restricted to 114,000
acre-feet total from 2013-
2017
LEMA allocation of 55
inches (11 inches x 5
years)
Renewed for another 5
years
PROPOSAL OVERVIEW
Mike Standley, Steering Committee Member & Mike Meyer, KDA-DWR
GOAL EXPRESSION

To extend the Ogallala Aquifer water supplies for the

long-term benefit of the area, the following five- (5) year
KFL plan proposal will reduce water use by 11% from
Historical Usage which current data and research shows
will substantially reduce the Ogallala Aquifer water level
decline rates when compared to the average annual
water level decline rate 2005-2016.
PROPOSAL

15% reduction over a 5-year period

Only appropriated irrigation groundwater rights
Vested rights are encouraged to participate voluntarily
Non-irrigation uses encouraged to implement conservation
plans
No ceiling/No floor
Process in place to give due consideration to past conservation
 OTHER PROPOSALS THE STEERING
COMMITTEE HAS CONSIDERED
Phased Flat 25% Flat 20% Flat 15%
Sliding Scale
Reduction Reduction Reduction Reduction
Phase I: 10% 5-Year Plan 5-Year Plan 5-Year Plan 5-Year Plan
reduction 25% reduction 20% reduction 15% reduction Based on
(years 1-3) from historical from historical from historical percent of
Phase II: 20% use(2006- use(2006- use (2006- historical use
reduction 2015) 2015) 2015) (2006-2015)
(years 4-6) No Ceilings/No No Ceiling/No No Ceiling/No compared to
Phase III: 30% Floor Floor Floor authorized
reduction Compare to quantity
(years 7-9) Net Irrigation Conservation
18 inch Requirement factor reduced
ceiling/8 inch (NIR) by percent
floor saved
ADVISORY COMMITTEE

3-7 KFL Residents/Owners/Operators

KFL One represents non-irrigation use
KFL representative serves as chair
Annually reviews
data and orders
Produces annual
GMD#3 One representative report
Recommendation
to GMD to renew
or modify
KDA-
DWR One representative
EXAMPLES & FLEXIBILITIES
Mike Meyer, Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources
 IRRIGATION WATER RIGHT ALLOCATIONS

KFL Allocation =
Historical Use (2006-2015) X 0.85 (applies 15% conservation factor) X 5
No well shall be allowed to pump more than its Authorized Annual Quantity in any single year unless
authorized by a KFL Term Permit

Authorized Quantity Annual Average Historical Use 5-Year Average Historic Use 5-Year KFL Allocation
100 AF 91 AF 455 AF 386.75 AF

Examples 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 5-Year Total

5-year allocation without exceeding Auth Q 80 75 80 75 76.75 386.75
KFL Term Permit provides option to exceed Auth Q 105 70 70 70 71.75 386.75
VESTED WATER RIGHTS & OVERLAPS

Vested Water Rights exempt,

unless they enroll voluntarily Total Average
Will have their authorized annual Annual Water
quantity available for use on an Use within KFL
annual basis boundary =
109,000 AF
Appropriation Water Rights that
share a well or point of diversion
with - overlap - Vested Water Vested Water Use
Rights shall be subject to the KFL = 24% of total
and will have a KFL Allocation average reported
use within KFL
boundary
 VESTED WATER RIGHTS & OVERLAPS

Vested Water Right & Appropriated Water Right Overlap with Single Point of Diversion (PD)

Total Allocation under this PD = 150 AF Vested Water Right = 100 AF

Vested Auth. Quantity = 100 AF Appropriated Right Historical Use = 36 AF
Appropriated Auth. Quantity = 50 AF KFL
Historical Average Use = 136 AF KFL 15% reduction applied to only 36 AF
(30.6) for a total quantity of 130.6 AF
TEMPORARY TRANSFERS

Temporary transfers of all or portions of the KFL Allocation between water rights
may be made within the boundaries of KFL
Transfer application signed by all owners involved
Transfer up to 2 miles without exceeding authorized quantity
Transfer anywhere (more than 2 miles) without exceeding historical use
 TEMPORARY TRANSFERS

Annual Authorized Annual Historical KFL 5 X Authorized 5 X Historic Use

Quantity Use Allocation Quantity
Water Right #1 75 70 297.5 375 350
Water Right #2 25 21 89.25 125 105
100 AF 91 AF 386.75 AF

WR #1 WR #2 WR #1 WR #2 WR #1 WR #2
375 AF 11.25 AF 375 AF 2 Miles 11.25 AF 350 AF > 2 Miles 36.75 AF

Consolidated Well Unit Up to 2 Miles More than 2 Miles

Can move allocation from WR#1 to Can move allocation from WR#1 to WR#2 (or Can move allocation from WR#1 to WR#2
WR#2 (or Vice Versa) up to 5 X Auth Q Vice Versa) up to 5 X Auth Q as long as 5-year (or Vice Versa) up to 5 X Historic Use as long
as long as 5-year KFL allocation of the KFL allocation of the rights is not exceed. as 5-year KFL allocation of the rights is not
rights is not exceed. exceeded.
ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES & TOOLS

Cost share for irrigation technology

and soil moisture probes
Limited Irrigation Crop Insurance
(RMA contact available for questions)
 NEXT STEPS
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Randy Richmeier, Steering Committee Member
TIMELINE:
GOAL 2018 IMPLEMENT LEMA
May 9 Additional informational meetings (7:00pm, Clarion Hotel, Garden City)
May 10 - GMD#3 Board Meeting
June GMD formally requests LEMA; KDA reviews proposed LEMA
July - Provide notice of initial public hearing
September Hold initial public hearing
October Provide notice of second public hearing
November/December Hold second public hearing
End of 2017 Chief engineer issues order of decision
Early 2018 Chief engineer issues order of designation
WHAT IS A LEMA?

A Local Enhanced Management Area, or LEMA, is a

management plan to address local groundwater
concerns.
A Groundwater Management District (GMD) has the
authority to recommend a LEMA to the chief engineer.
By law, two public hearings will be held so that the chief
engineer can ensure a LEMA is needed and is in the
public interest.
QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK &
DISCUSSION
Northern Kearny Finney County
Local Enhanced Management Area (KFL)
QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK & DISCUSSION

Comment cards
Comment on-line at www.kfl2017.weebly.com
Attend informational and steering committee meetings

May 9th at 7:00pm

Clarion Hotel
Garden City

We want to hear from you